Douglas teachers get new contract

Wednesday

Feb 27, 2013 at 8:00 PMFeb 27, 2013 at 8:23 PM

By Susan Spencer TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

The Douglas Teachers Association and School Committee have agreed to extend by one year the teachers’ expiring three-year contract, with minimal increases, the School Department announced Wednesday. The agreement will continue the contract until June 30, 2014.

Superintendent Nancy Lane said the teachers, psychologists and physical and occupational therapists covered by the contract agreed to a 1 percent cost-of-living increase and a delay in step advancements for the first two pay periods, or one month.

The School Department hopes the concessions will allow the district to continue to offer Advanced Placement classes at the high school.

“We’ve seen a huge growth in AP in the last few years. We’re very committed to it,” Ms. Lane said. “We’re in kind of dire financial straits so this is really helpful.”

Last month Ms. Lane released a preliminary fiscal 2014 school operating budget of roughly $12.5 million, 8.7 percent over the $11.5 million fiscal 2013 budget. The draft budget is based on current costs plus $66,486 in additional local revenue, including $50,009 in state Chapter 70 money.

However, many numbers are still in flux, including the level of state aid the town will receive, the future of federal and state grants — which totaled $590,077 in the current year — and costs for health insurance.

Town Administrator Michael J. Guzinski said that while the town is moving forward with a new health insurance plan that will save $735,000 more than existing plans, roughly $500,000 of those savings had already been factored into budget estimates so the benefit isn’t quite the windfall it might seem.

Voters will face a $1.4 million Proposition 2-1/2 override at the May 14 town ballot to cover the fiscal 2014 budget.

“Even with the override, there are going to be cuts,” Ms. Lane said.

The president of the Douglas Teachers Association did not return calls for comment today.

School Committee Chairman Scott A. Yacino said: “I think the committee was very grateful that the teachers came in and recognized we were facing a serious financial situation and were willing to make concessions. They came in looking to help, which was a good thing.”